35
1489 Words
Chapter 35
Alice POV
Something was definitely wrong with these people. I just couldn't figure out what. After my conversation with Ice at the diner, I tried to let it go. I really did. But the more I thought about everything that had happened, the more questions I had. The biggest one was still the same. What the hell did "pack" mean? I had always thought a pack was just a group of people. Bikers had clubs. Friends had groups. Families had each other. But Ice and his friends talked about their pack like it was something much bigger. Something serious.,And after what I'd seen last night, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had accidentally stepped into something I didn't understand. I was sitting at the diner, stirring my coffee, when Mack walked over.
“You're going to stir that thing until the cup disappears.”
I looked down. I had been stirring the same coffee for at least five minutes. “I'm thinking.”
“That can be dangerous.”
I rolled my eyes. “Very funny.”
He leaned against the counter.,“You still thinking about Ice?”
“Maybe.”
“That's a yes.”
I sighed..“Mack, can I ask you something?
,“Sure.”
“What exactly is Ice?”
He froze. Not for long. Just a second. But I noticed. “Human.”
I stared at him.,“Seriously?”
He laughed. “What?”
“That's your answer?”
“That's my answer.”
I narrowed my eyes.,“Because he doesn't act like a normal human.”
Mack shrugged. “Some people are different.”
“That's an understatement.”
I took another drink of coffee.,“Last night I saw something in the woods.”
His expression changed. “What did you see?”
“Animals.”
“What kind?”
“Wolves.”
Mack's shoulders tightened. I noticed that too. “They were acting strange.”
“How?”
“They had red eyes.”,Mack looked away. “And they were foaming at the mouth.”
He cleared his throat. “Probably sick.”
“That's what I thought.”,I paused. “But they were huge.”
He looked back at me.,“Wolves can get pretty big.”
“Not that big.”
He didn't answer. I leaned closer. “And Ice's friends weren't scared.”
Mack raised an eyebrow. “Why would they be scared?”
“There were more than twenty of them.”
He shrugged. “Maybe they're brave.”
I stared at him. “You're terrible at lying.”
He laughed. “Who says I'm lying?”
“You do.”
“How?”
“You keep avoiding my questions.”
He smiled. “Maybe you're asking the wrong questions.”
I sat back.,“Maybe.”
I watched him walk away. Something told me he knew a hell of a lot more than he was saying. And I was going to find out.
Ice POV
I knew something was wrong the moment I walked into the diner.
Alice was watching everyone. Not casually. She was studying them.
She was paying attention to every conversation, every movement, every little thing that happened around her. Mack caught my eye from across the room. “She's suspicious.”
“I know.
“How much does she know?”
I looked at Alice. “Enough.”
Mack sighed. “We need to be careful.”
“I know.”
I walked toward her. “Hey.”
She looked up. “Hey.”
I sat beside her. “You okay?”
“Fine.”
That one word told me she wasn't fine. I smiled. “You're thinking again.”
“I'm always thinking.”
“I've noticed.”
She turned toward me. “I have a question.”
I sighed. “Of course you do.”
“What exactly is a pack?”
I stared at her. There it was. I had been expecting it. “A group of people who stick together.”
“That's it?”
“That's it.”
She studied me.“Why does everyone act like it's some kind of secret?”
“Because it's personal.”
She nodded slowly. “Okay.”
I knew she didn't believe me. She leaned closer. “Then why do you have territory?”
My heart stopped. “How do you know about that?”
“Mack mentioned it once.”
Damn Mack. I forced myself to stay calm..“Everyone has places they consider theirs.”
“That doesn't explain why you have people guarding the woods.”
“Safety.”
“From what?”
“People who shouldn't be there.”
She stared at me. I could see the questions forming in her eyes.
I reached over and took her hand. “Don't worry about it.”
She frowned. “That makes me worry more.”
“I know.”
She sighed. “You're frustrating.”
“I've been told.”,She smiled slightly.,I squeezed her hand.,“I'll tell you more when I can.”
She looked at me.,“You promise?”
“I promise.”,She nodded..But I could tell she wasn't satisfied. Neither was I.,Because every day she got closer to the truth.
Alice POV
That evening, I was sitting outside my apartment when I noticed something strange. Ice's guys were outside. A few of them were standing around near the parking lot. They weren't talking. They were just watching.,I stood up. “Okay... that's creepy.” One of them looked directly at me. Then he looked toward the woods. I followed his gaze. Nothing.,Just trees. I looked back at him. He was still staring.
“Can I help you?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Then why are you watching me?”
“Making sure you're safe.”
I frowned. “From what?”
He didn't answer. I crossed my arms. “You guys are seriously weird.”
He smiled. “Probably.”
Then he walked away. I watched him go. Something moved between the trees. I froze. There. I saw it again. Something large.
I stepped closer. “Hello?”
Nothing. I walked toward the edge of the woods. “Alice.”
I jumped. Ice was standing behind me. “What are you doing?”
“I saw something.”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
He immediately stepped in front of me.,“Go inside.”
I frowned. “There you go again.”
“Alice.”
“You can't keep telling me what to do.”
“I know.”
“Then stop.”
He looked toward the woods. His entire expression changed. For just a second, he looked completely different. Seriously. Dangerous.
Like he knew something was out there. Then he looked back at me.
“Please.” His voice was softer this time. “Just go inside.”
I stared at him. “Why?”
“Because I don't want anything happening to you.”
I wanted to argue. Instead, I sighed. “Fine.”
I turned around. Then I stopped. “Ice?”
“Yes?”
“Whatever you're hiding...”,He looked at me.,“I'll find out.”
He smiled sadly.,“I know.”
I walked inside. But before I closed the door, I looked back.
Ice was still standing there. Watching the woods. And I swear… For one second… I thought I saw something move behind him. Something huge. Then it disappeared. I slowly closed the door .“What have I gotten myself into?”
Ice POV
I waited until Alice's door closed. Then I turned toward the woods.
I could hear them. They were close. Too close. I clenched my fists.
They're back. Gator appeared beside me.
“How many?”
“Three.”
“Rogues?” I nodded. “Probably scouting.”
Gator looked toward the building. “Alice?”
“She can't know.”
“I know.”
We stood there silently. Then I heard something in the trees.
A low growl. My wolf stirred inside me. “Protect mate.”
“I know.”
Gator looked at me. “You need to move her somewhere safer.”
“I know.”
“You keep saying that.”
I looked toward Alice's window. “She won't go.”
“Then make her.
I shook my head. “No.”
“Why?”
“Because she's already starting to feel like everyone is controlling her.”,I sighed. “She needs to trust me.”
Gator nodded. “Then give her a reason.”
I looked back toward the woods. “I will.” A branch snapped. My eyes narrowed. Whatever was out there… It was watching us. And this time, I wasn't going to let it get anywhere near Alice. Not my mate.
Not ever.
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